On Saturday, May 17th, junior Catherine McFarlane delivered a performance that will be remembered for years at Polytechnic School. The talented junior posted an incredible jump of 38′ 1.5″, flying towards a CIF Division 4 triple jump title, new school record and a bid to the CIF-SS Masters meet. Her success this year is a testament to not just her talent but her hard work and grit despite countless challenges. For McFarlane, this victory was more than just a medal; it was the culmination of months of perseverance, resilience and self-belief through unexpected setbacks. Earlier in the season, her momentum was derailed by a significant injury that threatened to end her season. “Mid-season, I suffered a pretty severe back injury that really tested my limits,” McFarlane said. “There were moments when I questioned if I’d even be able to finish the season, let alone perform well. But I kept training and competing as much as I safely could.” She added, “More importantly, I leaned into my mental strength—I had to constantly remind myself that setbacks don’t define me, and that I had the discipline and determination to push through.” McFarlane’s mental fortitude was on display during the tournament, where she solidified a spot in Poly’s history books. Track and field head coach Dwayne Miller has been by McFarlane’s side the whole season, supporting her through the many challenges she faced and more importantly, believing in her the whole time. Having long seen the potential in McFarlane, he said, “Catherine is a natural athlete, a very hardworking, genuine athlete. The league has just begun to see the amount of talent Catherine has. Even Catherine is just getting used to her talent level.” “The less she questions her talent and leans into her natural ability, the more she will impress herself and become even more confident in her fierceness,” Miller added. With the CIF title under her belt and a new record to her name, McFarlane’s season has been one to remember. But for McFarlane and the Panthers, this feels like just the beginning.